Network-adaptive function control method for dual-mode mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A network-adaptive function control method is provided for a dual-mode mobile terminal. The network-adaptive function control method for a dual-mode mobile terminal supports communication via first and second-type networks includes registering at least one function as a network-adaptive; determining, when a function is requested to be activated, whether the requested function is the network-adaptive function. If it is determined that the requested function is the network-adaptive function, it if determined whether the mobile terminal is in the first-type network; and activating, if the mobile terminal is in the first-type network, the requested function in association with the first-type network. The network-adaptive function control method of the present invention allows registering portable IP network-friendly functions that are served only in a portable IP network domain but not in the cellular network domain, thereby restricting handover to the costly cellular network, resulting in reduction of communication cost.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 14/584,321, filed on Dec. 29, 2014, which is a continuation of aprior application Ser. No. 14/253,262, filed on Apr. 15, 2014, which hasissued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,045,258, on Aug. 7, 2018, which is acontinuation of prior application Ser. No. 11/977,316, filed on Oct. 24,2007, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,805,436, on Aug. 12, 2014, andwas based on and claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Koreanpatent application number 10-2006-0104280, filed on Oct. 26, 2006, inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of eachof which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and handovers from anIP network to a cellular network. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a network-adaptive function control method for adual-mode mobile terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an international standard forwireless applications such as e-mail, messenger, picture exchange, andmusic file download applications. However, WAP is disadvantageous withregard to issues such as a slow connection speed, inconvenient userinterface, and a high per-packet cost, thereby rendering WAP impracticalfor high traffic applications.

Recently, portable Internet service technologies have emerged that areexpected to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems byemploying dual communication technologies, such as cellular/IP dual-modetechnologies, in a single handheld casing. However, the currentcellular/IP dual-mode mobile terminal has a drawback in performance inthat a handover from an IP network to a cellular network causes unwantedcellular network utilization cost, because of the departure from aportable Internet service domain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in part in an effort to solve atleast some of the above-mentioned problems, and to provide some of theadvantages described herein below. A network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode mobile terminal that is capable of controlling ahandover between heterogeneous wireless network domains, i.e. thecellular and IP network domains.

Also, the present invention provides a network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode terminal that is capable of restrictingutilization of a service in the cellular network domain, which is costlyin a cellular network domain, by using a cost-free IP network domain,thereby resulting in significant cost savings.

In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, the above and otherobjects are accomplished by a network-adaptive function control methodfor a dual-mode mobile terminal supporting communication via first-typeand second-type networks. The network-adaptive function control methodincludes registering at least one function as a network-adaptivefunction; determining, when a function is requested to be activated,whether the requested function is the network-adaptive function;determining, if the requested function is the network-adaptive function,whether the mobile terminal is in the first-type network; andactivating, if the mobile terminal is in the first-type network, therequested function in association with the first-type network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other exemplary objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a universal mobilecommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofthe mobile terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen image illustrating an IPnetwork-friendly function setting screen of the mobile terminal of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode mobile terminal according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the appreciationby a person of ordinary skill in the subject matter of the presentinvention.

In the following descriptions, the cellular network represents a GlobalSystem for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and/or anyother type of cellular network. Also, the mobile terminal located in thecellular network accesses a data server using the WAP.

The term “data communication information” refers to the information usedfor transferring an ongoing communication session from a network domainto another one when the mobile terminal crosses the boundary between thetwo network domains.

The data communication information typically includes items such ascommunication progress status, source address, data name, and storagepath in the mobile terminal.

In the following descriptions, it is assumed that the service chargesand authentication information for both the cellular and mobile IPnetwork are managed by a single operator. However, a person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the present invention is notlimited to the cellular and mobile IP network operator. The IP networkrepresented typically includes networks such as a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), a wireless broadband (WiBro), etc.

The mobile terminal is enabled by an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) thatprovides access to mobile services over unlicensed spectrum technologiesSince the handover between the IP network and the cellular network istypically similar to that between the WLAN and GSM/GPRS/UMTS under thecontrol of the UMA Network Controller (UNC), the present invention canbe adapted for the interoperability between GSM/EDGE Radio AccessNetwork (GE-RAN) and the WLAN specified in the UMA standard. In order tosimplify the explanation, the portable Internet service and UMA networkranges is called the first domain and the cellular network is called thesecond domain in the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a universalmobile communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the universal mobile communication system typicallyincludes a mobile terminal 100, a portable IP network 200, a cellularnetwork 300 of which radio coverage typically overlaps that of theportable IP network 200, and a data server 400.

The mobile terminal 100 estimates the received signal strength from thebase station of the portable IP network 200 and determines whether themobile terminal 100 has departed (i.e. moved away) from the portable IPnetwork 200 on the basis of the received signal strength.

The mobile terminal 100 accesses the data server 400 through one of theportable IP network 200 and the cellular network 300.

In order to enable communication with the portable IP network 200 andthe cellular network 300, the mobile terminal is provided with an IPnetwork interface module and a cellular network interface module.

Still referring to FIG. 1, when, based on received signal strength, itis determined that there is a departure from the area of the portable IPnetwork 200 determined while communicating with the data server 400through the portable IP network 200, the mobile terminal 100 performs ahandover to the cellular network 300 for maintaining the communicationwith the data server 400. On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 100detects a received signal strength sufficient to communicate with theportable IP network 200 while communication with the data server 400through the cellular network 300, the mobile terminal 100 performs ahandover to the portable network 200. The handover between the portableIP network 200 and the cellular network 300 is performed on the basis ofthe data communication information stored in the mobile terminal 100.

The portable IP network 200 provides the mobile terminal 100 located inits radio coverage with a wireless Internet access and communicationservices. That is, the portable IP network 200 connects the mobileterminal 100 located in its radio coverage to the data server 400.

The portable IP network 200 is typically defined, for example, by aportable IP network base station 202. The portable IP network basestation provides an access service for the mobile terminal 100 to thedata server 400.

The cellular network 300, via base station 302, connects the mobileterminal 100 to the data server 400 when the mobile terminal 100 hasdeparted (left) from the portable IP network 200. A person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that, in a non-limiting example, as thereceived signal strength continues to be reduced, a handover maypreferably occur before the mobile terminal is completely out of therange of the portable IP network so there is no loss of communication.

The data server 400 stores various data such as game, still and motionpictures, and MP3 files and allows the mobile terminal 100 to downloadthe data. The data server 400 can be, for example, a contents providerserver and an e-mail server.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofthe mobile terminal of FIG. 1.

Referring to the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile terminal100 typically includes an IP interface unit 110, a display unit 120, aninput unit 130, a storage unit 140, a cellular interface unit 150, and acontrol unit 160 having a received signal strength calculator 161.

The portable IP interface unit 110 provides communication with theportable IP network 200 such that the mobile terminal 100 downloads datafrom the data server 400 via the portable IP network 200.

The display unit 120 can be implemented with a display such as, forexample, liquid crystal display (LCD) and displays various data andoperational status of the mobile terminal on a display screen. A personof ordinary skill in the art should understand and appreciate that anytype of display screen suitable for a mobile terminal can also be used.

In this exemplary embodiment, particularly, the display unit 120displays a menu screen listing function items such that a user canselect a function as the IP network-friendly function to be activatedonly in the portable IP network domain. The control unit 160 configuresthe mobile terminal such that the IP network-friendly function selectedon the menu screen activates in the portable IP network domain.

The input unit 130 can be implemented with at least one of atouchscreen, a touchpad and stylus, and/or a keypad, each providing aplurality of function keys and alphanumeric keys. The input unit 130also transfers the signals generated by a key input to the control unit160. It is also possible that at least some of the functions of theinput unit could be voice activated.

In this exemplary embodiment, particularly, the input unit 130 isimplemented to permit the selection of functions in association withfunction items listed on the menu screen by key manipulation.

The storage unit 140 stores application programs for operating themobile terminal and data generated during the operations.

In this exemplary embodiment, particularly, the storage unit 140 storesthe data communication information 141. The data communicationinformation 141 includes the progress status, source address, data name,and storage path in the mobile terminal.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the cellular interface unit 150 includes aradio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting and amplifyingsignals to be transmitted and an RF receiver for low noise-amplifyingand down-converting the received signals. The cellular interface unit150 is responsible for radio communication with the cellular network300.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cellular interface unit150 is typically configured to maintain data communication between themobile terminal 100 and the data server 400 via the portable IP network200 after the frequency handover from the portable IP network 200 to thecellular network 300.

The control unit 160 controls general operations of the mobile terminal100.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 160 checks whether an IPnetwork-friendly function has been set. The control unit 160 alsomonitors the frequency channel of the portable IP network 200 to detectwhether the mobile terminal 100 departs from the portable IP network200. The departure of the mobile terminal from the portable IP network200 to the cellular network is determined on the basis of the receivedsignal strength from the base station 201 of the portable IP network200.

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen image illustrating an IPnetwork-friendly function setting screen of the mobile terminal of FIG.2. This screen image would typically be displayed by a display screen ofthe display unit 120.

Referring to FIG. 3, the IP network-friendly function setting screen 301lists the function items with respective check boxes such that each ofthe function items is set to operate in the portable IP network domainby checking in the check box through the input unit 130.

The IP network-friendly functions can be grouped, for example, by thetype of communication, such that the group of data communicationfunctions can be enabled or disabled according to the user setting.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operational example of anetwork-adaptive function control method for a dual-mode mobile terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile terminal 100 is turned on so as to be ina standby mode (S401) and the control unit 160 (shown in FIG. 3) of themobile terminal 100 detects an input of a function key for executing aspecific function of the mobile terminal 100 (S411).

At step (S421), a decision is made, in that if the function key input isdetected, the control unit 160 determines whether the function indicatedby the function key is registered as an IP network-friendly function. Inorder to determine whether the function is registered as an IPnetwork-friendly function, the control unit 160 compares the sequencegenerated by the function key input with reference sequences of the IPnetwork-friendly functions registered through the IP network-friendlyfunction setting screen of FIG. 3.

If the function indicated by the function key input is not an IPnetwork-friendly function (the answer to step 421 being negative), thecontrol unit 160 performs the function (S441).

However, if the function indicated by the function key input isdetermined as one of the IP network-friendly functions (the answer tostep 421 being affirmative), the control unit 160 determines whether themobile terminal is located within the portable IP network domain (S431).

If the mobile terminal is located within the portable IP network domain,the control unit 160 performs the IP network-friendly function requestedby the function key input (S411).

Whether the mobile terminal is located within the portable IP networkdomain is determined on the basis of the signal strength received fromthe base station of a portable IP network.

If the mobile terminal 100 is not located within the portable IP networkdomain, the control unit 160 rejects performing the IP network-friendlyfunction requested by the function key input and repeats step S401.

With reference to the example of the IP network-friendly functionsetting screen 301 of FIG. 3 in which the messenger, wireless Internet,and download functions are checked to be registered as the IPnetwork-friendly functions.

Accordingly, to summarize, if a messenger function activation key isinput at step S411, the control unit 160 determines whether themessenger function is one of the IP network-friendly functions at stepS421. Since the messenger function is the IP network-friendly functionas shown in FIG. 3, the messenger function operates only within theportable IP network domain. Thus, the control unit 160 determineswhether the mobile terminal is located within the portable IP networkdomain at step S431. In order to determine that the mobile terminal isin the portable IP network domain, the control unit 160 determineswhether the received signal strength received from a base station of aportable IP network is greater than a threshold value.

If it is determined that the mobile terminal 100 is within the portableIP network domain, the control unit 160 activates the messenger functionand otherwise repeats step S401.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations of anetwork-adaptive function control method for a dual-mode mobile terminalaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 100 operates a datacommunication function, such as the messenger, wireless Internet, anddownload functions, in the portable IP network domain (S501).

The control unit 160 monitors the communication channel with theportable IP network and determines whether the mobile terminal 100 hasdeparted from the area of the portable IP network domain (S511). If thereceived signal strength is less than a threshold, the control unit 160determines that the mobile terminal is departed from the portable IPnetwork domain. The monitoring from the control unit 160 may be eitherperiodic or continuous.

If at (S511) it is determined that the mobile terminal 100 has departedfrom the range of the portable IP network domain, then at (S521) thecontrol unit 160 stores the data communication information of the datacommunication function and determines whether the data communicationfunction is registered as an IP network-friendly function (S531).

The data communication information includes, for example, thecommunication progress status, source address, data name, and storagepath in the mobile terminal. In the case of the download function, thedata communication information includes the name of the file, address ofthe server providing the file, download progress, etc.

At (S541), if the data communication function is registered as an IPnetwork-friendly function, the mobile terminal 100 ends the datacommunication function. The data communication information can then beused to restart the IP network-friendly function in consideration of theprogress of the communication in the previous session, when the mobileterminal 100 enters the portable IP network domain again. In oneexemplary aspect of the present invention, when the mobile terminalreturns to within the portable IP network the mobile terminal 100 maydisplay a prompt asking the user if they want to continue with previouscommunication, such as continuing to finishing downloading theinformation. It could be a period of time before the mobile terminal hasreturned to range to use the portable IP network and the downloadedinformation may no longer be relevant or desired by the user. The mobileterminal may also display a prompt asking the user whether the partiallydownload information should be erased to free up storage.

If the data communication function is not registered as an IPnetwork-friendly function, the mobile terminal performs a handover tothe cellular network (S551) and then maintains the data communicationfunction (S561).

Although the procedure is depicted to end with the IP-network friendlyfunction termination, the handover process and function restart process(S551 and S561) can be performed with a specific option even outside theportable IP network domain.

According to the present invention, the handover from the portable IPnetwork to the cellular network is formed seamlessly such that thecommunication breakage is not perceived.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described indetail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variationsand/or modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught whichmay appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall withinthe spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

As described above, the network-adaptive function control method for adual-mode mobile terminal according to the present invention allowsregistering portable IP network-friendly functions that are served onlyin a portable IP network domain but not in the cellular network domain,thereby restricting handover to the costly cellular network, resultingin a reduction of communication costs. Also the registering of at leastone network-adaptive function may include providing a changeable defaultregarding one of (i) prompting of resumption of the network-adaptivefunction is desired, and (ii) automatically resuming thenetwork-adaptive function upon a detected return of the mobile terminalto within a communicative range of the first-type network.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a memory configured tostore a plurality of network settings including a first network settingand a second network setting; and a processor operatively coupled withthe memory, the processor configured to: identify a network setting setfor an application, perform a communication-based function for theapplication, when the application is set in the first network setting,using a first network or a second network, and perform thecommunication-based function for the application, when the applicationis set in the second network setting, using a selected network of thefirst network and the second network.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to set the application inone of the first networking setting and the second network setting basedat least in part on a user input received in relation with theapplication.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to automatically perform the communication-basedfunction without a user input using the selected network based on adetermination that the selected network is available to the apparatus.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first network is at least oneof a Wi-Fi network, a Wireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro) network, or a WirelessLocal Area Network (WLAN), and wherein the second network is a cellularnetwork.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication-basedfunction for the application comprises at least one of an e-mailfunction, a messenger function, an attached file function, a wirelessinternet function, or a download function.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to present, via a display,one or more user interfaces respectively associated with one or morefunctions supporting communication.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, whereinthe one or more user interfaces comprise one or more indications to showthe first network setting and the second network setting.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:when in the second network setting, stop to perform acommunication-based function for the application when the electronicdevice is beyond a communicative range of the first network.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:resume to perform a communication-based function when the electronicdevice returns to the communicative range of the first network.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:wherein, in the first network setting, to perform a communication-basedfunction for the application via the second network when the electronicdevice is beyond a communicative range of the first network.
 11. Amethod comprising: controlling a memory to storing a plurality ofnetwork settings including a first network setting and a second networksetting; identifying a network setting set for an application;performing a communication-based function for the application, when theapplication is set in the first network setting, using a first networkor a second network; and performing the communication-based function forthe application, when the application is set in the second networksetting, using a selected network of the first network and the secondnetwork
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: setting theapplication in one of the first networking setting and the secondnetwork setting based at least in part on a user input received inrelation with the application.
 13. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: automatically performing the communication-based functionwithout a user input using the selected network based on a determinationthat the selected network is available to the apparatus.
 14. The methodof claim 11, wherein the first network is at least one of a Wi-Finetwork, a Wireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro) network, or a Wireless Local AreaNetwork (WLAN), and wherein the second network is a cellular network.15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication-based function forthe application comprises at least one of an e-mail function, amessenger function, an attached file function, a wireless internetfunction, or a download function.
 16. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: presenting, via a display, one or more user interfacesrespectively associated with one or more functions supportingcommunication.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more userinterfaces comprise one or more indications to show the first networksetting and the second network setting.
 18. The method of claim 11,further comprising: when in the second network setting, stopping toperform a communication-based function for the application when theelectronic device is beyond a communicative range of the first network.19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: resuming to perform acommunication-based function when the electronic device returns to thecommunicative range of the first network.
 20. The method of claim 11,further comprising: wherein, in the first network setting, performing acommunication-based function for the application via the second networkwhen the electronic device is beyond a communicative range of the firstnetwork.